RAPS hyperbaric oxygen therapy for animals

Used for decades in human medical care, hyperbaric O₂ therapy is a comparatively new approach in veterinary settings. It is available at about 50 of the most advanced veterinary practices in the US. 

Wholly owned by the Regional Animal Protection Society, the RAPS Animal Hospital is the only veterinary hyperbaric O₂ therapy provider in Canada. The therapy can speed healing and avoid more invasive procedures in animals with a vast range of health issues.

“Used in conjunction with other preventative and treatment regimes, hyperbaric O₂ therapy can deliver anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and tissue-healing benefits, accelerating healing dramatically, especially in conditions involving an O₂ deficit,” says Dr. Roey Kestelman, a veterinarian at the RAPS Animal Hospital.

“As part of a comprehensive and holistic approach to animal wellness, hyperbaric O₂ therapy addresses a vast range of medical conditions and may reduce or eliminate the need for surgery or other invasive treatments in some cases,” says Dr. Guy Arad, another of the RAPS Animal Hospital doctors.

Hyperbaric O₂ therapy involves placing the patient in a pressurised environment of pure O₂. The higher ambient air pressure allows the body to absorb considerably more O₂ than under normal conditions. The ability for O₂ to travel or be transferred from the blood to the tissue in need is enhanced by hyperbaric O₂ therapy.

“We set out to be a full-service, state-of-the-art animal hospital,” says Eyal Lichtmann, CEO of the Regional Animal Protection Society. “In barely a year, we have positioned ourselves among the most innovative, advanced practices in North America.”